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ICARDA News International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012 Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG Website: www.icarda.org
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Media
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icarda-media@cgiar.org
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Arab
Authority for Agricultural Investment and
Development delegation visits |
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| The
Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID)
sent a high ranking delegation to ICARDA, 16-17 March, to discuss
potential collaboration between ICARDA and AAAID in line with a Memorandum
of Understanding that was established in previous interactions. The mission was established through an agreement between Dr Abdul Kareem Mohammad Al-Amri, President of AAAID, and Dr Mahmoud Solh, DG of ICARDA. The delegation included Dr Naufal H. Rasheed, Assistant to the President for Technical Affairs; Dr Nashwan A. Abdulrazak, Head, Division of Applied Agricultural Research; Mr Salah Hassan Abdalla, Division of Applied Agricultural Research; and Mr Abdulgader Ahmed Abdulgader, Division of Development Programs.
AAAID was established in 1976 as an independent agricultural investment institution with the objective of contributing to Arab food security; developing agricultural resources in member countries; and increasing the exchange of agricultural products and inputs among member countries. There are 19 member countries with investment capital of USD 1.3 billion. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sudan, Iraq and the UAE are the biggest contributors. AAAID invests in agricultural production, implements all types of projects, conducts agricultural research and cooperates with international, regional and national organizations within their scope of agricultural investment and development. Areas of activity include plant and animal production, food processing, agricultural services, marketing and support activities such as research, technology transfer and training. Dr Nashwan Abdulrazak from AAAID and Dr Raj Gupta, Project Manager in the ICARDA Regional Office for Central Asia and the Caucasus in Tashkent, presented the experiences of both organizations in conservation agriculture. Individual meetings for the delegation were hosted by ICARDA Program Directors and there were wrap up meetings with all Program Directors, Drs van Ginkel and Dr Solh. The wrap up session touched on the following points of mutual interest, including: socio-economic studies, variety trials, water management and productivity, small ruminant production, farm mechanization, biotechnology applications, characterization studies, poverty mapping, and training. There were also discussions on specific topics for collaboration between ICARDA and AAAID, including direct linkages and feedback between the two instuitutions. |
About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15
international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA serves the entire
developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean;
and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water,
improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and
goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central
and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for
the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage
legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of
the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
(www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and
regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international
research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable
development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition
and health, and protecting the environment.